Ear cap



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,721

J. w. KRAMER EAR CAP Filed Sept. l0. 1926 Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

Ui'aii'l STATES rarest nerica.l

JOHANNES WILHELM KRAMER, 0F BERLIN, GERMANY.

EAR CAP.

Appication filed September 10, 1926, Serial No. 134,719. and in Germany September 10, w25` This invention relates to improvements in ear caps, the object being to provide an .ear cap which can be used for protection against frost or wind, correction of the ear form, carrying of telephones for men hard of hearing, or for use in broadcasting and other uses.

The invention consists in making an ear cap with a bow like frame of elastic inaterial and covering it along the 'whole outer edge with a suitable cloth cover surrounding the concha.

A further feature of the invention is, that the cap bow is of a sickle like shape, conically arched outwardly and covers essentially the .whole back of the concha. The cap can be put over the concha and, by pressingthe bow frame close to the head, caused to elastically snap over into a conical shape arched in opposite direction to the previous shape. The bow is then held by the 'ear root and presses the concha strongly against the head. Hence the ear is protected from cold. An outstanding concha can also be corrected by use of the cap. For such purpose the cap can be used at night.

A further advantageous construction of the cap is obtained by making the cap bow as a closed obtuse cone. The bow thus constructed is stronger and of more equal elasticity.

The opening for the ear root can be placed in the centre of the cap, or advantageously slightly out of the centre so that a narrower part is provided in front of the ear and a good fitting of the cap is obtained.

i A further improvement consists therein, that the bow and the cover are made in one piece of india rubber, which is vulcanized to different stiifnesses of the different parts, so that the bow is suiiiciently rigid, while the part covering the concha is softer and adapted to obtain an agreeable fitting to the ear.

In the last described construction the outer face of the cap cover can be provided with a rubber pipe, leading to the membrane of a speaking apparatus or the like. Telephones for signal receiving or broadcasting can also be provided in the cap in a very simple and advantageous manner.

The drawing shows the invention by way of examples.

Fig. l is a side view of the cap looking from the head,

Fig. 2 is a section in a position before use,

Fig. 3 is a section of the cap in use fitted on a concha,

Fig. L is a cross section of a cap made of several parts,

Fig. 5 a corresponding section of a cap made in one piece with a usual telephone ittedin the cap,

Fig. 6 is a cross section and Fig. a side view of a cap with a specially small and light telephone fitted eccentrically in the cap.

In the iirst form according to Figs. l to 3, a bow l of celluloid is cut in a sickle like shape and arranged to fit around the ear root to the rear edge of the concha. .The bow is provided with a cover'2 of cloth of the same color as the Vhuman skin, so that it is not conspicuous. rlihe surface of the bow, is covered by a cloth 3, which terminates along the forward edge of the bow in a hollow seam 4. A connecting string 5 runs through the seam and connects the ends of the bow l and is of such length that the bow is contracted so as to assume a. conical shape, as shown in Fig. 2. The cloth cover 8 is preferably also made of silk tricot of flesh color.

lVhen the cap is used the bow is bent outwardly (Fig. 2) and the cap put over the concha, including the eai'-lap, and the outer edge of the bow is then pressed against the head to cause the bow to elastically snap4 over the concha and contract on the side thereof next the head as shown in Fig.

The cover 3 can be made of leather, if sound protection as well as protection against cold is desired.

The cap can also be provided with wadding and with medicaments for treating sick ears. The cumbersome binding can thereby be avoided.

According to Fig. Ll- (as well as in the further forms) the bow lzL is formed as a circular or elliptical part of an obtuse conical shape (as in Fig. 7) and consists of elastic material, such as Celluloid or hard rubber. The coi'iering part 8u is correspondingly shaped and of similar material, and both parts are fastened together by a thin cover of weak rubber or cloth. This construction is sufi'iciently rigid to support additional parts, such as a. rubber tube 6 leading` to a speaking machine or to an electric telephone. This enables telephones to be used inconspicuously, and a good protection against sound can be obtained, so that the telephone can be used effectively in a noisy room.

' According to Fig. 5 the cap is fitted with a telephone 7 of usual design. In this form of the invention the whole cap consists of one piece of rubber, and the bow l is vulcanized to a somewhat rigid state, the other parts being left weaker.

Accordingto Figs. 6 and 7 the c ap is similar to that shown in Fig. 5, and contains a hard center part 8 provided with inner screw thread for the insertion of a special small telephone 9. This small telephone 9 is eccentrically fastened in the cap (see Fig. 7 so as to be precisely before the ear opening. This eccentric position can also be used in the caps according to Figs. 4 and 5.

It is also possible to replace the cover of the usual telephones by the ear cap, which then serves for fastening the telephone membrane on the ytelephone casing, especially by screwing the latter into the cap, as in Fig. .64. In this way a minimum of entire weight can be obtained.

The new vcaps lt easily to different ears., so that only a few sizes or patterns are needed.

I claim:

l. An ear cap including an annular conical bow of elastic material to engage around the ear when its convex side is exposed to the head and arranged to be thrown through its flat position so that the cone becomes reversed and presses its concave side to the head, thereby closely engaging around the ear. n

2. An ear cap comprising a bow of elastic material, ttingto the rear 'face of an ear concha, and a cover connected to the outer edge of said bow, said bow being of conoidal shape adapted to be thrown through its flat position.

An ear cap comprising an annular conical bow of elastic material, arranged to be fitted to the rear face of an `ear concha, Aand a cover connected to the outer edgel of said bow, said cover being a piece of relatively soft rubber, and said bow 'being of relatively hard rubber.

4. An ear cap comprising an annular coni- Y cal bow of velastic material, fitting to the rear face of an oar concha, a vcover connected to the outer edge of vsaid bow, and means on said cover for the attachment of a ,telephone to said cap.

In witness whereof I lailix my signature.

J OHS. WILH. KRAMER. 

